Sushi here is excellent! Also love the gyoza dumpling and hibachi too. I was surprised by the previous review posted by a Mom who had a bad experience with her kids. We have had nothing but excellent service at Ichiban. We have brought our daughter in several times (she is now 20 months old) and have never had a problem. The lady who works there is definitely hands-on and doesn't hesitate to help and play with our daughter, but I don't find this offensive at all. Its pretty much like having a family member around. Our daughter can be loud and bangs things, but the people who work there did nothing but smile and talk to her.
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I recently moved to Apex from Carrboro and was ecstatic to find this little gem right around the corner from my house. I LOVE sushi, when it is fresh and done correctly. I can't stand sloppily made sushi with old smelly seafood (go next door to HT for that). But as you can see in the title, this place definitely does it right.
Upon my initial visit, I wasn't quite sure how to take this place. It is a small little spot on the end of the strip mall just down from Harris Teeter. I walk in on a weeknight to a completely empty restaurant, with only one hibachi chef, one sushi chef, and one lady waiting tables. We almost turned around and went elsewhere thinking that there must be a reason it is empty...until I noticed the seafood in the case looked really fresh and amazing. So we sat down at a table in the middle of this unassuming contemporary decorated NY style sushi restaurant. The waitress seemed a bit anxious and overbearing at first, but I know she was happy we gave them a chance. She then proceeded to give us excellent feedback and recommendations on the menu. So we order an Alaskan roll, a NY roll, and a Flamingo roll with a large hot sake. It took a few minutes longer than most places for the rolls to be made, but when they reached the table we knew exactly why. These rolls were absolutely exquisite and beautiful. Bright, vibrant colors on everything from the fish, to the avocado, to the spicy sauce. Everything looked and smelled extremely fresh with not even the slightest hint of fishy smell. Then to analyze the taste; well I can only say that I've had sushi on this level in NYC (albeit for 3X the price). The rolls were absolutely divine and the only problem was that I just wanted to eat more and more. If you like, love, or would like to try sushi done correctly, you must give this place a try. It has totally reset the bar for what I expect from sushi bars in NC. I have eaten sushi in many restaurants across the state, from Carrboro/Chapel Hill to Durham, Winston-Salem to Wilmington and Charlotte just to name the most frequent stops. THIS SUSHI IS THE BEST IN NORTH CAROLINA...from my experience, it's not even close. If you live anywhere nearby, or travel through Apex at any time, you MUST try the sushi here, YOU WILL LOVE IT!! Let me finally state that I rarely write reviews and that it takes an extraordinary experience for me to take the time to do so. Well, this place defines extraordinary. Please go here, Apex does not want to lose this one...
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I've been to Ichiban several times and always have had bad experiences. Connie the waitress is brooding and impolite. The food is way over priced and small portions - my spider roll only had 4 pieces and the hibachi is on the skimpy side too. Forget trying to use a coupon here - they treat you with disdain. They work every way possible to gyp you out of the value of your coupon - they invent rules not printed on the coupon to try and get more money out of you. Go to Akashi in durham or sushi thai in cary if you want good food, value, and good service. I will never step foot in ichiban again and I suggest you avoid it too.
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I went there with a friend of mine earlier for dinner and we felt we were VERY badly treated and discriminated because we have 3 kids each with us. My 19 months old used their chopstick as a drumstick, and the waiter took the chopstick right out of my child's hand. The whole time we were there, the lady boss kept giving us a certain look whenever she walked past our table. Then my friend's child (2 years old) used her chopsticks as drumstick, and from the corner of my eyes, I can see lady boss heading towards us, but she stopped when my friend's child stopped using the chopsticks as drumsticks. Lady boss was close enough for me to hear her loud ""SIGH"" and disgust. All this time, the service they gave to other customer was extremely nice and friendly. They even greeted them with ""Hi"" and ""Welcome"" and ""Thank you"" We got none of that when we walk in the door! Other customers get friendly smile and small talk while we get hard cold stare! Our children are very well behaved. We even bought playing cards to keep them occupied while waiting for the food. We got smiles from other customers, unfortunately the staffs don't seems to appreciate business from customers that have more then 1 child! Towards the end of our meal, my 19 months got up from his high chair and attempted to climb on the table, which I didn't allow. My child wasn't even close to getting on the table, he was just attempting, and Lady Boss, came over, and quite rudely and a bit higher tone than what I would have liked ""NO! NO! Sit! SIT!"" and attempted to push my child down! Can you imagine that!! After leaving the restaurant with my kids, I asked my friend to watch my children for a second while I went back and gave them a piece of my mind! Surprising, when I walked in the door (without the kids this time), I was greeted by a big ""HELLO!!"" and ""WELCOME!"" I was just here 5 minutes ago!! What a big difference! If you have a family, avoid this restaurant! Kids are NOT welcome here! They did not even offer us any kids menu! The rude waiter even asked us ""How many eating?"" before he gives our children any plates! What an insult! Our children has no need for food?! There's plenty of other Japanese Restaurant out there (Wasabi at Waverly Place, Cary. or Asahi at Chapel Hill Rd, Morrisville ) that serves better food and definitely a better service
Pros: None!
Cons: Very bad service!
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We have eaten at Ichiban many times and it has always been awesome. Last night we had a fantastic meal. My husband had the Ribeye Hibachi. It was delicious. Big pieces of super tender, perfectly cooked steak with lots of veggies and rice for only $14 and it came w/ soup and salad. Great deal! We also had 4 different rolls which were all excellent. I have not had better sushi anywhere. The service is also excellent. I highly recommend Ichiban.
Pros: great Hibachi and sushi
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